Mavericks Host NCAA Regional Sunday
UNO will host the NCAA Division II North Regional on Sunday, Feb. 26 at Lee & Helene Sapp Fieldhouse. The morning round will begin at 10 a.m., with semifinals at noon. The finals will begin at 6 p.m.
The probable UNO lineup:
125: No. 3 Cody Garcia (31-3; redshirted last year)
133: No. 6 Dan Hilario (18-8; won regional last year)
141: No. 2 Mitch Waite (16-7; injured last year)
149: No. 6 Shane Unger (16-6; 2nd in regional last year)
157: No. 1 Patrick Allibone (26-6; won regional last year)
165: No. 5 Ross Taplin (32-12)
174: No. 1 J.D. Naig (28-4; won regional last year)
184: Nate Oviatt (14-17; did not place last year)
197: Nick Edmonds (7-19)
Hwt: No. 1 Les Sigman (18-0; won regional last year)
Last Week
Heavyweight Les Sigman's second period pin, his 67th straight win, gave UNO a 23-17 win at Augustana Feb. 15. The victory gave the Mavericks their seventh North Central Conference title and their first undefeated dual season since 1969-70. UNO finished dual competition 10-0, including a 3-0 mark in NCC competition.
The Coach
Mike Denney is in his 27th season as the Maverick head coach. The Dakota Wesleyan graduate has a 262-101-5 career mark. He has twice been named the NCAA II National Coach of the Year and led the 1991, 2004 and 2005 Mavericks to NCAA II national championships. UNO has also won three National Dual titles, in 1997, 2005 and 2006.
The Regional Field
The eight-team field for the NCAA II North Regional includes five ranked teams, led by UNO at No. 1; No. 2 Minnesota State, Mankato; No. 4 Augustana; No. 15 Minnesota State-Moorhead; and No. 19 Upper Iowa. Southwest Minnesota State, St. Cloud State and Northern State, all unranked, complete the field. The top four finishers in each weight class qualify for the national tournament. A total of 28 wrerstlers are ranked among the top eight in their weight classes in the latest NWCA rankings. UNO has eight of its 10 wrestlers ranked, including Patrick Allibone, J.D. Naig and Les Sigman, all No. 1. Other No. 1-ranked competitors in the field include Nate Baker, Minnesota State-Moorhead, 165, and Tim Boldt, Augustana, 197. Defending regional champions returning include Dan Hilario, UNO, 133; Ryan King, Augustana, 149; Patrick Allibone, UNO, 157; J.D. Naig, UNO, 165; Travis Krinke, Minnesota State, Mankato, 174, and Les Sigman, UNO, hwt.
On Deck
The Mavericks will come to the final step in trying to win their third straight national title when they send their regional qualifiers to the NCAA Division II meet March 10-11 in Findlay, Ohio.
The probable UNO lineup:
125: No. 3 Cody Garcia (31-3; redshirted last year)
133: No. 6 Dan Hilario (18-8; won regional last year)
141: No. 2 Mitch Waite (16-7; injured last year)
149: No. 6 Shane Unger (16-6; 2nd in regional last year)
157: No. 1 Patrick Allibone (26-6; won regional last year)
165: No. 5 Ross Taplin (32-12)
174: No. 1 J.D. Naig (28-4; won regional last year)
184: Nate Oviatt (14-17; did not place last year)
197: Nick Edmonds (7-19)
Hwt: No. 1 Les Sigman (18-0; won regional last year)
Last Week
Heavyweight Les Sigman's second period pin, his 67th straight win, gave UNO a 23-17 win at Augustana Feb. 15. The victory gave the Mavericks their seventh North Central Conference title and their first undefeated dual season since 1969-70. UNO finished dual competition 10-0, including a 3-0 mark in NCC competition.
The Coach
Mike Denney is in his 27th season as the Maverick head coach. The Dakota Wesleyan graduate has a 262-101-5 career mark. He has twice been named the NCAA II National Coach of the Year and led the 1991, 2004 and 2005 Mavericks to NCAA II national championships. UNO has also won three National Dual titles, in 1997, 2005 and 2006.
The Regional Field
The eight-team field for the NCAA II North Regional includes five ranked teams, led by UNO at No. 1; No. 2 Minnesota State, Mankato; No. 4 Augustana; No. 15 Minnesota State-Moorhead; and No. 19 Upper Iowa. Southwest Minnesota State, St. Cloud State and Northern State, all unranked, complete the field. The top four finishers in each weight class qualify for the national tournament. A total of 28 wrerstlers are ranked among the top eight in their weight classes in the latest NWCA rankings. UNO has eight of its 10 wrestlers ranked, including Patrick Allibone, J.D. Naig and Les Sigman, all No. 1. Other No. 1-ranked competitors in the field include Nate Baker, Minnesota State-Moorhead, 165, and Tim Boldt, Augustana, 197. Defending regional champions returning include Dan Hilario, UNO, 133; Ryan King, Augustana, 149; Patrick Allibone, UNO, 157; J.D. Naig, UNO, 165; Travis Krinke, Minnesota State, Mankato, 174, and Les Sigman, UNO, hwt.
On Deck
The Mavericks will come to the final step in trying to win their third straight national title when they send their regional qualifiers to the NCAA Division II meet March 10-11 in Findlay, Ohio.
